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More info?)
Your question cannot be answered without defining which type
of thermal pad. Older technology pads are nothing more than a
solution to badly machined heat sinks. No reason to machine
the heatsink thermal interface when using thermal pads. They
just stick a thermal pad on. Another type thermal pad
provided significant improvements. Numbers are required to
better understand this.
Those recommending Arctic Silver are promoting classic
myths. They provide no numbers - for thermal compounds or
thermal pads. Arctic Silver's thermal conductivity numbers
are no significantly better than any other brand name thermal
compound sold at much less price. Arctic Silver has simply
discovered and cultured a market where computer assemblers
forget even the principles taught in junior high school
science. They assembled a computer, therefore they are
experts? Most damning symptom is they don't cite specs - the
numbers.
First and most important number would be the 'degree C per
watt' number for that heatsink. This is where most of the
thermal solution and thermal problems lie. Just because one
heatsink is made in copper does not mean it is better
cooling. And yet so many computer assembler will just assume
that to be so. Up front, suspect the worst if that
manufacturer does not provide a 'degree C per watt' number.
These are often heatsinks so poorly machined as to require
thermal compound or thermal pads. These heatsinks are why CPU
manufacturer just dumb it all down and say all should use
thermal pads or compound. Easier than trying to get a
computer assembler to first learn numbers.
Some just assume the best heatsink is lapped perfectly
flat. Again wrong. Properly machined heatsinks are curved so
that proper pressure is optimized in the little spot where
heat actually transfers from CPU to heatsink. Yes, a little
spot. Almost no heat is transfers in those outer edges.
Which raises another important fact. One must apply minimal
amount of thermal compound. So little that it does not spread
out to the outer half of a CPU to heatsink surface. If
thermal compound leaks out the side, then electrical problems
can result. Worse, excessive thermal compound will actually
decrease thermal conductivity.
Every change of medium only decreases thermal
conductivity. A 'CPU direct to heatsink' conductivity is more
conductive than one 'from CPU, through thermal compound or
pad, and then to heatsink'. Appreciate what thermal compound
does. It only fills the dispersed microscopic holes between
heatsink and CPU. Now even those holes will conduct some
heat. Most of the heatsink makes a best thermal contact -
direct contact between 'CPU and heatsink metal'. Applying too
much thermal compound only impedes where the heatsink would
directly contact the CPU - causing less thermal conductivity.
More numbers. Apply a heatsink directly to CPU. If the
heatsink is properly machined, then this is a perfectly good
thermal interface. Execute a fixed program and measure CPU
temperature. Then shutdown and apply a minimal amount of
thermal compound. Repeat the execution temperature test. If
thermal compound reduces CPU temperature by more than single
digit degrees, then either the human improperly installed a
heatsink OR the heatsink is not properly machined. Numbers
demonstrate the minor advantage is in thermal compound.
Minor. But you would never know this from the hype (always
posted without technical numbers) from those who just know
Arctic Silver saves the world.
Another myth. Thermal compound does not dry out in a year
no matter what Arctic Silver hypes to increase sales. Twenty
years later and the better thermal compounds (that cost less
than Arctic Silver) are still good. Listening to myths
promoted by Arctic Silver fanatics is like listening to
Geritol commercials that *prove* Geritol is necessary for
health. Or that *prove* Listerene is effective. BTW, Doc
Slater's Magic Potion is also important to protect computer
users from the dangers of electrons. We know this because
others also say so. We need no numbers because so many others
just say its is so. Welcome to the world of Arctic Silver
hypomania
Be most wary of those recommending Arctic Silver. They also
swore Saddam attacked the WTC and Pentagon. They just know.
They don't need no stink'in numbers. But you first need
numbers for those various types of thermal pads. No numbers
is why responsible answers are so few and so subjective.
DaveJr wrote:
> Well group...what's in gonna be? Thermal pad or paste?
>
> AMD Athlon 950Mhz on Asus A7V mobo. No overclocking.
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